Coming up on 2/1 and 2/2. That's the season right there. Win both and we're firmly in the playoff hunt. Lose both and it truly is Season over. A split would be fine but we really need both.
Well since Utah is the 7th seed; it's actually a make or break for us. We need the tie breakers for Houston and Utah; if we have any shot at making the playoffs. And yes blazing... As long as Kingspeed doesn't attend the games.
We are floating in the purgatory of the NBA, or the teams not good enough for lottery gold or playoff success.
See i disagree with that. I keep pointing out that the Blazers were a first round and out team 6 times in a row in the 90's; then made it to the WCF twice and almost winning the title in 2000. I think it's important to instill a winning culture; then use Oshley's talent to find the talent to build around our core. Even the Clipper's announcers said they don't think there is a starting 5 strong then ours in the league. If that's even close to true, then adding role players maybe all we need to get to the next level. Lillard, Batum, Matthews and even Aldridge have much room for improvement. They will get better with time. IN the meantime, you play to win and get into the playoffs and allow management to do their job and build the best possible team with the assets and cap space we have available.
I think things are very different now than they were back then. We had a team salary of 100+ mm and Paul Allen has said he will never do that again. We were first round and out team Our last year in that time frame of 1st round and out our team salary was $29mm. The following year, we made the WCF with a team salary of $55mm, or almost double the year before. Then the final time we went to the WCF with that team we had a team salary of $74mm To put that in to perspective...somewhat, the salary cap back in 99/00 was $34.00, and we were at $74mm. That would be about $120mm today.
Actually the Rider team in 99 had a very manageable payroll. It was when we swung for the fences and grabbed Pippen and Smith was when we had that high of a payroll. The 99 team went to the WCF too. http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/POR/1999.html It was 51 million.
I don't think making the playoffs would be a horrible thing. I think playoff experience would be valuable for Lillard. I do want a lottery pick this year, though. I'm sure we can get that via trade though
This is absolutely wrong. While the idea itself has merit, the conclusion assumes a veteran team which is not the case here. We're going to make one of the best trades in the NBA this offseason, and it'll reap great rewards, and it won't affect our cap. Ready for it? We're going to trade Rookie Damian Lillard for Veteran Damian Lillard.
LOL I was just talking to Sly before he went to class and I said something very similar. I said, we already got that pick with Lillard. Now is the time to build our bench to fit with Lillard, Batum, Matthews and Aldridge.
To hell with lottery gold. Reaching the playoffs this year would be far, far better for this team than getting a few more ping-pong balls. Heck, the experience of trying and falling just short of the playoffs would still be better for these kids than throwing in the towel and hoping our numbers come up. We've got cap space, a couple of assets, and a GM who is motivated, smart, and pretty darned good-looking (no homo). Play to win, period.
The big picture seems to escape you sometimes. BTW, who's the chick guzzling beer down your throat in that pic? Kinda kinky.
No, it doesn't. I think tanking while we still have a reasonable shot at the playoffs would do more harm than good. And I would define "a reasonable shot" as "Damian Lillard and (to a significantly lesser extent) Meyers Leonard still believe we can make the playoffs." Don't yank the rug out from under him, wait until he steps off the rug. If it costs us a few percentage points chance at a higher pick, so be it. As for the pic, it's not beer, it's Jack Daniels. And it's not me, it's a friend of mine. It's just the best golf picture I've ever taken, with the possible exception of Clint Eastwood holding his banana.
8th seed isnt necessarily purgatory. It is often the first step to playoff success. The Bulls were an 8th seed Rose's rookie year and Rose played great. Two years later, he was MVP and they were the #1 seed. The Thunder were the 8 seed in 2010. Two years later, they were in the Finals. The Mavs were the #7 seed the year before they won the title. Making the 8th seed won't keep us at the 8 seed forever. Lillard, Batum, and Barton will all improve next season. In addition, we will add free agents. 8 seed this year could easily turn into 4 seed next year and then we go from there.
Kevin Love is disgruntled with the Wolves as the team can't seem to even make the playoffs. Rubio, the happy go lucky 22 PG is sulking because of the loses being piled up by the wolves. So the mental well being of the team (especially LA, who could demand to move to a contending team) vs. a number 15 pick (Luke was a 14 pick right?) Also, who are the Blazers going to attract (like a good vet for minimum) when they are lottery bound team. I say fuck the #15 pick, build a winning culture now. I do see why MM is such a big fan of Cho.
